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[hodge]

Yes, but already Mattis, Tillerson and McMaster are openly speaking against him. My gut feeling is that they are holding on to their jobs because they're worried about him. I don't think Mattis would let him use the codes unless it was absolutely necessary. I really don't. Maybe I'm deluding myself. I hope not.

I just get the impression that Mattis and McMaster have some balls. I am putting my hopes in them. Because who else have we got?

 

[Deleted member 541]

@hodge They can TRY and change his mind, but if he gives the order, they MUST follow thru.....

 

[hodge]

I know they're supposed to, but I'm not convinced they would in reality. I think Mattis and McMaster are smart enough to see how stupid and crazy Trump is. I actually think that's why they stay in their positions. It's a hellish job, to be sure, but why else would any decent person stay in it if not to keep Trump in check? Plus, I'm sure they are much more savvy about what's in the daily intel they get than Trump is, and, well, I am really just praying that they will hold the fort.

 

[Deleted member 541]

I'm just wondering how in the hell congress is supposed to do the work it has in front of them when they get back today.

Debt ceiling
Infrastructure bill
Health bill
Tax reform bill

And no doubt Trump will likely dump DACA on them to figure out an answer. Here we go again, crazy making for the next few months, and Trump degrading his own members, tweet storms galore, and the news won't be able to keep up with all the crazy news...

Should be interesting!!!!,

 

[Fadeaway]

For anyone following the story about the police officer who assaulted the nurse, the story is getting crazier and crazier. It's strange for me because it is local, and I am at that hospital often.I wasn't sure if it was worth making a new thread about, but there are some interesting things to discuss about it. Especially now that we know the burn victim was an Idaho police officer and that the hospital has taken out a restraining order on the P.D.

 

[hodge]

I haven't been following the story, @Fadeaway, but would appreciate a link to a good local story about the back story. There's so much going on, but this really disturbed me.

 

[scout86]

I've sort of been following the story in the national news, but they haven't given much detail. So, the person whose blood they wanted was ALSO a police officer? That makes it even stranger.

 

[scout86]

but if he gives the order, they MUST follow thru.

Well, to a point that's true. They take an oath to uphold the constitution. Their first allegiance is actually to that, not the president. The president is just a person. He may be the commander in chief, but there are situations where ethics might require someone to refuse a direct order. How that sorts out, I imagine, is going to be an individual thing.

 

[hodge]

Just a reminder, before Nixon was forced to resign, he was drinking heavily and acting really crazy and there is no way anyone would have let him have the real nuclear codes. So, it's happened before. We've just got to pray enough sane people remain in high enough positions to make that judgment, because Lord knows we need it with this guy.

 

[Deleted member 541]

@hodge Trump was given the nuclear codes the day he was sworn into office. Under the rules he must keep them on his person at all times. Bill Clinton lost them once and there was a shitstorm to find them....

Did President Clinton Lose Nuclear Codes?

Bill Clinton 'lost vital White House nuclear codes'

 

[scout86]

Actually, I guess they got lost in the ER when Reagan got shot too. What that code really is for is the president to authenticate their identity. It would start the launch process. There are steps after that, and most presidents probably don't know how to make the phones call on their own.

The book I'm reading at the moment tells about a few times when technical snafus made it look like were under attack & SAC hesitated before firing back. Fortunately for us.

I'm not saying having a wacko for commander in chief isn't scary, or that we shouldn't consider fine tuning the checks & balances, but I think it's a plus that we're dealing with people, not robots.

 

[Justmehere]

This article is an interesting clash of cultures: People like Ryon are going to shoot at Hurricane Irma. In the middle of all the darkness, one has to laugh. (Can someone please make sure the world knows it's a joke too? I mean it is a joke, right?)

There are Facebook events popping up for people who are going to protest hurricane Irma and people who are going to shoot flamethrowers into hurricane Irma... more clearly as satirical fake FB events. It is funny/sad.

I know this thread is about US politics but I'm struck by how easy it is miss news from other nations watching American news. On the news in the US, it is all about Irma. I can really understand why since millions are at risk right now. But even the plight of states in the west like Montana is mostly ignored even though over a million acres have burned - 1,500 square miles. That's a ton of burned earth - but not as stunning of television. Outside of the US, millions are homeless from floooding in India, Bangladesh, and other areas of Asia, Mexico just had its biggest earthquake in recorded history, and now the sun is acting funny.
The sun has gone wrong and scientists don't know why. A friend of mine who studies the sun for NASA is concerned we will see a big enough solar flare to really affect disaster relief communications even more.

Once the crisis of Irma passes, I wonder how the economy in the US will handle all of this destruction.